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Nikon D3200 Review
Friday, April 20, 2012 Camera Review| Introduction | Preview | Sensor performance | Comparisons | Conclusion |
The Nikon D3200 versus its competitors
The Nikon D3200 vs the Sony NEX-7 and the Sony SLT Alpha 77
Is the Nikon D3200’s sensor the same Sony APS-C Exmor HD Sony found in the NEX-7 and the SLT-A77 SLR? There is little doubt that this is the case, but let’s look at all the measurements to be sure.
With its DxOmark Score of 81, the D3200 is on the exact same footing as the NEX-7, sharing the same 24.1-bit measurement for color depth as the Sony hybrid (with the SLT-A77 coming in close behind at an even 24 bits). Its dynamic range is of a piece with color depth, with a score of 13.3EV for the D3200 vs 13.4EV for the NEX-7 (and 13.2 for the SLT-A77). The D3200 incorporates well the Sony 24 Mpix sensor that appeared as a star device at the IFA exhibition in Berlin in September 2011.
This said, looking at the curves of low-light ISO measurements, the Nikon’s score is very close to that of the NEX-7. As for the SLT-A77’s low-light score, its weak results are due to the camera’s translucent mirror system that consumes some of the light and generally reduces the sensitivity from 1/3 to 1/5 EV (see the Sony SLT-A57 sensor review).
Nikon D3200 vs Sony SLT Alpha 77 vs Sony NEX-7: SNR comparison.
The Nikon D3200 pitted against the Canon EOS 600D
The scores achieved by the Nikon D3200’s 24 Mpix sensor are better than those of the Canon EOS 600D for all measured criteria. With its DxOMarkscore of 81 vs. only 65 for the Canon EOS 600D (67th position among all cameras measured by DxOMark), the D3200 is among the overall Top 10.
- Color depth: with 24.1 bits, the D3200 is 2 bits better than the Canon EOS 600D.
- Dynamic range: the curve shows that the Canon APS-C’s 18 Mpix sensor slows down and ultimately stops making any progress at all from 800 to 400 ISO, whereas the Nikon’s Sony sensor continues to broaden the range of tones captured by the D3200 to finally reach, at 100 ISO, a cruel difference of nearly 2EV better than the Canon (11.5EV vs 13.2EV for the Nikon).
- Low-light ISO: Despite its sensor’s greater resolution, the Nikon D3200 provides low-light image quality that is better than the Canon’s by more than a demi-diaphragm.
Nikon D3200 vs Canon EOS 600D: SNR comparison.
Comments
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Added by Vadim.Leb |
March 04
Lens for D3200
Hello.
I am using this camera and very happy with it. I have kit 18-55 and Nikkor 35 1.8. And want to buy new lens which will be good for D3200`s 24MPs sensor (probably Sigma 17-50 F2.8 EX DC OS HSM). But with this camera tested not many lens and results does not make simple to predict how new lens will behave with it. For now tested: Tamron AF 28-300mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical [IF] Macro Nikon D3200 5P-Mpix D5000 4P-Mpix this results looks ok D7000 4P-Mpix Tamron SP AF 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) MACRO D3200 5P-Mpix D5000 4P-Mpix D7000 9P-Mpix what? twice better sharpness? Sigma 120-400mm F4.5-5.6 DG APO OS HSM Nikon D3200 7P-Mpix D5000 5P-Mpix also looks ok D7000 6P-Mpix So could you please test more lenses with D3200 which already has quite big audience. Especially I am will be very happy if you add tests with lenses which can replace kit lens. Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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Added by Emilie_DxOMark |
March 06
Re: Lens for D3200
Hello,
Thanks for your interest in DxOMark. We plan to publish the results of the Nikon D3200 soon (maybe this month ...). This will be a very complete review with the best lenses for this camera. Best regards, The DxOMark team Reply |
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Added by electronicbazaar |
July 20, 2012
Nikon D3200 -The Most Favored Digital SLR Camera
nikon d3200 is really a nice piece to work with... awesome resolution with flexibility to use with a wide variety of lenses... in case of shopping online you guys can try http://www.electronicbazaar.com.au/
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Added by martinmartinov |
July 09, 2012
Nikon d3200 image quality
I was wondering how could an entry level camera such as the 3200 receive the same score as a full frame (MkIII). Analyzing Your methodology of scoring, I came to the conclusion that You favor only the highest scores per criteria. For example, the 3200 has DR of 13EV and the MkIII has 12 or so. But, this happens on ISO 100. If You see the chart, pushing the sensitivity further, the results are becoming increasingly more favorable to the MkIII (they're almost equal the D800). I suggest that You integrate the results using the chart integer or obtain the average DR scores per whole ISO range and come with a score reflecting the whole ISO range. Also, if the highest ISO 100 result is of greater importance, give bonus points for that, but don't take it as an isolated result cutting off all the rest DR curve to ISO 12800. If cameras with different high ISO maximum sensitivities are compared, I think that, the curve up to ISO 6400 should be taken (all the newer cameras have ISO 6400). As for the D3200 compared to e.g. 5100, I notice that it is significantly more color blind in high ISO settings than the D5100, something that is not shown in the charts (very odd). Also, check out the red channel, it sucks completely. It is even degraded in basic ISO100 in RAW... As a conclusion, be objective and use the integrated results, not the maximum.
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Added by randybenter |
July 09, 2012
Re: Nikon d3200 image quality
That's why it is great that DXO publishes the charts. You can look at them and get the information you need. Some might only shoot at base ISO, others might be more interested high ISO performance. Don't pay much attention to the numerical score.
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Added by hannu108 |
June 08, 2012
Typo + high scores
" On the contrary, the D3200 shows significant low-light improvement over the D3100 (with its 12 Mpix CMOS sensor), which had achieved a DxOMark low-light score of 919 ISO."
Nikon D3100 does not have a 12 Mpix sensor but a 14.2 Mpix sensor: http://www.europe-nikon.com/en_GB/product/digital-cameras/slr/consumer/d3100 Interesting to see that D3200 and D3X score so high. They both are only mediocre in high sensitivities compared to, for example D5100 & D7000. Maybe in the end the megapixels count... Reply |
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Added by koleh77 |
June 06, 2012
Nikon D3200 vs. Sony A77
Sony translucent cameras are good for video, not so good for photo, the same sensors show much better result when mirror is opening_
Sony A33,A35,A37))),A55,A57,A65,A77 vs. sony A580, Pentax K-5, Nikon D700 & now Nikon D3200. ------------------------------ http://photo-wed.blogspot.com/ Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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Added by evilthought |
June 08, 2012
Re: Nikon D3200 vs. Sony A77
They are good for photos too. They offer AF tracking with 10 fps, and they offer lower shutter lag, and no mirror related blur. All of this comes at the cost of 1/2 stop lower score, but you aren't going to see that 1/2 stop with your eyes until ISO 3200 and up.
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Added by koleh77 |
July 06, 2012
Re: Nikon D3200 vs. Sony A77
I don`t have A77, but I do have A33&A55 and have to say that at iso 100 I see noise in sunny day while my friend have old minolta maxxum and iso 100 is clear...
Noise is the worst thing in a33&a55, everything else is almost perfect !!! ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://photo-wed.blogspot.com/ Reply |
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Added by draksa |
June 06, 2012
Same as Canon 5D Mark III
A $700 dollar camera scores the same as a $3500 camera. Canon is really falling behind in sensor technology.
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Added by Mescalamba |
June 06, 2012
Re: Same as Canon 5D Mark IIIQuote: <div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Nikon/D3200">this page on the website</a></div>A $700 dollar camera scores the same as a $3500 camera. Canon is really falling behind in sensor technology. Its just score, it doesnt mean that much. In real life, its not terribly usable camera. Very small = bad handling with most lenses. Miniature OVF compared to 100% big OVF in 5DMK3. 4 FPS and shallow buffer. AF will be "so-so" as is usual in begginers camera. SNR at base ISO is 36.5 dB. Which means its noisy even at base ISO (common trait to these sensors). Even CFA, which was decent in Nikon cameras is crappy (cause its optimised for high ISO.. well in this case to make base ISO usable :D). AA filter from sample photos doesnt seem exactly great. Those last things are same for 5DMK3 too. Low quality CFA and AA filters. Or rather say, specificaly chosen both for high ISO performance and causing camera to be near color blind. So overall. This thing is usable as camera, but I wouldnt like it even for free. Canon offerings in starter/begginer segment is similary crappy tho. But this thing is no threat to 5DMK3. :D If there is some threat to 5DMK3, then its D800. But truth is that in reality D800 and 5DMK3 are quite different cameras for different customers. Both can do same things, but each of them is more suitable for different scenarios. I agree that Canon current generation of sensors is falling behind. But truth is, that there are now "new" sensors. Everything is just re-hash of old technology. I think Canon is simply trying to milk customers as much as possible. Nikon cant do that, cause 1) they are Sony dependant 2) they dont want to loose customers. Im not worrying about Canon not being able to create some next-gen sensor. They are, they just dont want to release it before they squeeze maximum from last generation. Reply |
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Added by flash01 |
June 07, 2012
Re: Same as Canon 5D Mark IIIQuote: Its just score, it doesnt mean that much. In real life, its not terribly usable camera. Very small = bad handling with most lenses. Miniature OVF compared to 100% big OVF in 5DMK3. 4 FPS and shallow buffer. AF will be "so-so" as is usual in begginers camera. Im not worrying about Canon not being able to create some next-gen sensor. They are, they just dont want to release it before they squeeze maximum from last generation. The first part you are correct. A number is a number. It indicates how far ahead Sony / Nikon are ahead of Canon in that regard. The AF, metering, handling, etc in the MK III absolutely crushes the D3200. By FAR the 5D MKIII is the better camera. You must be smoking some good stuff on the second part though. Canon is simply not able or doesn't want to inject money into its development team to produce a comparable sensor to the Sony sensor tech. This is a huge disadvantage to them and they must be feeling the heat. This type of technology takes YEARS to develop and you cannot let a competitor run away with the technology thinking you'll just milk some customer for a while and catch up later. Ask RIM, the maker of Blackberry, how that all turned out for them... Reply |
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Added by Mescalamba |
June 08, 2012
Re: Same as Canon 5D Mark IIIQuote: [quote author=Mescalamba link=topic=794.msg1421#msg1421 date=1339018617] Its just score, it doesnt mean that much. In real life, its not terribly usable camera. Very small = bad handling with most lenses. Miniature OVF compared to 100% big OVF in 5DMK3. 4 FPS and shallow buffer. AF will be "so-so" as is usual in begginers camera. Im not worrying about Canon not being able to create some next-gen sensor. They are, they just dont want to release it before they squeeze maximum from last generation. The first part you are correct. A number is a number. It indicates how far ahead Sony / Nikon are ahead of Canon in that regard. The AF, metering, handling, etc in the MK III absolutely crushes the D3200. By FAR the 5D MKIII is the better camera. You must be smoking some good stuff on the second part though. Canon is simply not able or doesn't want to inject money into its development team to produce a comparable sensor to the Sony sensor tech. This is a huge disadvantage to them and they must be feeling the heat. This type of technology takes YEARS to develop and you cannot let a competitor run away with the technology thinking you'll just milk some customer for a while and catch up later. Ask RIM, the maker of Blackberry, how that all turned out for them... [/quote] Not really. I know what Canon is capable to develop. I agree that their marketing "milk cusotmers and let competitor do whatever they want" is really stupid in long term. Im not sure how it will end for them. Seeing on DPreview as most commenters are super-happy about near useless 650D. :D Well I guess it works for Canon. I will stick to camera that can give me best image.. Which kinda exclude all today Canons. :/ Reply |
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Added by Mescalamba |
June 06, 2012
Not that good..
I unlike others prefer good colors. With metamerism index of this thing, I might aswell buy m4/3s. Nikon with this camera seems to follow Canon way of "near-color-blind" cameras. Just hope they will do some D400 with same sensor but radicaly improved CFA.
If someone likes colors, its Sony with this sensor, not Nikon. :/ Reply |
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Added by KOM |
May 18, 2012
in addition...
I think the iso rating is from 100 to 6400, instread of 200 to 6400.
Also the raw file is 12bit compressed, not lossless but the worst one. Reply | Read all replies for this comment |
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Added by adrhc |
June 15, 2012
Re: in addition...Quote: <div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Nikon/D3200">this page on the website</a></div>Also the raw file is 12bit compressed, not lossless but the worst one. What do you mean, it's not a truly RAW (the exact signal captured) like let's say in my actual D3100 ? Reply |
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Added by koleh77 |
May 07, 2012
test
I`m waiting for testing of the new D3200 (Sony 24 mp sensor).
Will it be also noisy as Sony A65 & A77 ? If so - bad sensor, if not - bad translucent mirror ! I`m waiting for test shots. --------------------------- http://photo-wed.blogspot.com/ Reply |
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Added by Plastisho |
May 06, 2012
Mistake
I think that Digic is a Canon Procesro :) :P there is a mistake at the specificatoions :)
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Further readings for the Nikon D3200 Review
To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.
Camera Review
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June 06, 2012
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Last year Nikon endowed the D5100 with a 16Mpix CMOS sensor and an articulated screen. This year Nikon has grafted a 24Mpix high-resolution APS-C sensor onto its D3100 amateur camera to create a new version, the D3200. What kind of image quality can we expect from this entry-level camera’s very high-resolution sensor? The answer can be found in our tests. |
Preview
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April 20, 2012
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Yesterday, Nikon announced a new entry level DSLR: the Nikon D3200. Even if this new model looks very similar to the Nikon D3100, don't be mistaken, the D3200 is a very different DSLR, as we describe in the following preview: |